Ferrocene-mannose conjugates as electrochemical molecular sensors for concanavalin A lectin

The binding affinity of a series of electroactive glycoconjugates, based on a ferrocene core bearing alpha-mannose units on one or both of its cyclopentadienyl rings, to lectin Con A was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and voltammetry. Voltammetric measurements were performed by differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV). Upon complexation of ferrocene-mannose conjugates with Con A, voltammograms showed a decrease of the peak current. Both the monomannosylated ferrocene and the bis(mannosylated) ferrocene derivatives form more stable complexes with Con A than methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside. Bis(mannosylated) ferrocene conjugates were found to bind to Con A with enhanced affinity due to the multivalent effect. A comparison of the thermodynamic data obtained by ITC and voltammetry is presented.     

Dual Crosslinking Photo-Switches for Orthogonal Photo-Control of Hybridization Between Serinol Nucleic Acid and RNA

Wavelength-selective photo-regulation by multiple chromophores responding to different wavelengths can expand the variation of photo-manipulating systems. Herein, we report the orthogonal photo-regulation of duplex formation between serinol nucleic acid (SNA) and RNA using light-induced crosslinking reactions mediated by a new photo-reactive nucleobase 8-naphthylvinyladenine (^NVA) and previously described 8-pyrenylvinyladenine (^PVA). An intrastrand crosslink was induced in an SNA strand containing two adjacent ^NVA residues by irradiation with 340–405 nm light; the crosslink was reversed by irradiation with ≤300 nm light. In an SNA strand with adjacent ^NVA and ^PVA residues, an intrastrand crosslink resulted from irradiation with 405–465 nm light that was reversed by irradiation with ≤340 nm light. Intrastrand photo-crosslinking caused severe destabilization of an SNA/RNA duplex, resulting in dissociation to single strands. Cycloreversion resulted in duplex formation. With these ^NVA/^NVA and ^NVA/^PVA photo-switches, four hybridization states of two SNA/RNA duplexes could be orthogonally photo-controlled by irradiation with a suitable wavelength of light.     

A New Interpretation of Apparent Induction Period in Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in Acid Emulsion

A following new interpretation of apparent induction period is proposed considering the experimental results obtained: octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) is activated by the reaction with acid to generate an activated derivative (A4). A4 reacts with D4 to generate A8, an active species containing eight dimethylsiloxane units. A8 backbites to generate mostly A4 and D4, which causes retardation in polymerization, but occasionally to form A3 and D5. A3 is highly reactive, and when the concentration of A3 exceeds a certain limit, much Ai where i is large enough is formed and promotes fast growth of chain at the interfacial area due to high concentration of D4. The interpretation assumes that A3 accelerates growth of chain faster than other species, and that A8 tends to backbite rather than grow. The interpretation is supported by the experimental results of polymerization conducted with D4 and D3, or D5 and D3 charged.     

Panduratin A inhibits the growth of A549 cells through induction of apoptosis and inhibition of NF-kappaB translocation

In the present study we investigated the effects of panduratin A, isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda, on proliferation and apoptosis in A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis was determined by the real-time cellular analyzer (RTCA), MTT assay and High Content Screening (HCS). The RTCA assay indicated that panduratin A exhibited cytotoxicity, with an IC?? value of 4.4 μg/mL (10.8 μM). Panduratin A arrested cancer cells labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and phospho-Histone H3 in the mitotic phase. The cytotoxic effects of panduratin A were found to be accompanied by a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis, as assessed by DNA condensation, nuclear morphology and intensity, cell permeability, mitochondrial mass/ potential, F-actin and cytochrome c. In addition, treatment with an apoptosis-inducing concentration of panduratin A resulted in significant inhibition of Nuclear Factor-kappa Beta (NF-κB) translocation from cytoplasm to nuclei activated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as illustrated by the HCS assay. Our study provides evidence for cell growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis by panduratin A in the A549 cell line, suggesting its therapeutic potential as an NF-κB inhibitor.     

Origins and predictions of stereoselective antibody catalysis: theoretical analysis of Diels-Alder catalysis by 39A11 and its germ-line antibody

The binding of enantiomeric haptens and transition states by the Schultz Diels-Alderase antibody 39A11 and its germ-line antibody were studied theoretically. The mechanisms by which one hapten and one transition state stereoisomer is recognized selectively are explored with docking simulations and quantum mechanical models. Transition states of the relevant Diels-Alder reaction were located with density functional theory. A prediction is made that the stereoselectivity of 39A11 will be achieved by two strategically placed hydrogen bonds and pi-stacking interactions of the maleimide with a binding-site tryptophan, arranged so as to coordinate one enantiomeric transition state. Binding of other ligands by antibody 39A11 and the germ-line antibody has also been investigated. The polyspecific nature of 39A11 and its germ-line precursor was found to originate from the general ability of the binding pockets to achieve hydrophobic binding of small organic substrates. Comparison of the highly homologous progesterone and Diels-Alderase antibodies (DB3, 1E9, and 39A11) highlights the fact that differences of several key residues in the binding pockets are sufficient to confer selectivity for different antigens.     

Polycarbonate-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers: Synthesis and characterization

The interfacial copolymerization of bisphenol A polycarbonate, bisphenol A-terminated poly-(methyl methacrylate), and bisphenol A bischloroformate is described. Monofunctional hydroxy-terminated poly(methyl methacrylates) were synthesized by the chain transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate with 2-mercaptoethanol. Further reaction with bisphenol A bischloroformate yielded monofunctional bisphenol A-terminated poly(methyl methacrylates). The structure and functionality of these polymers were proven by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (PNMR) spectroscopy. Block copolymers prepared by the interfacial copolymerization were washed with methanol and extracted with acetone to remove unreacted bisphenol A bischloroformate and bisphenol A-terminated poly(methyl methacrylates). The series of block copolymers, which contained from 0.11 to 0.86 mole fraction polycarbonate, were characterized by infrared, PNMR, and molecular weight analysis.     

Induced-fit in the gas phase: conformational effects on the enantioselectivity of chiral tetra-amide macrocycles

The structure, stability, and reactivity of proton-bound diastereomeric [M x H x A]+ complexes between some amino acid derivatives (A) and several chiral tetra-amide macrocycles (M) have been investigated in the gas phase by ESI-FT-ICR and ESI-ITMS-CID mass spectrometry. The displacement of the A guest from the diastereomeric [M x H x A]+ complexes by reaction with the 2-aminobutane enantiomers (B) exhibits a distinct enantioselectivity with regards to the leaving amino acid A and, to a minor extent, to the amine reactant B. The emerging selectivity picture, discussed in the light of molecular mechanics calculations, provides compelling evidence that the most stable conformers of the selected chiral tetra-amide macrocycles M may acquire in the gas phase a different conformation by induced fit on complexation with some representative amino acid derivatives A. This leads to the coexistence in the gas phase of stable diastereomeric [M x H x A]+ eq-eq and ax-ax structures, in proportions depending on the configuration of A and M and characterized by different stability and reactivity toward the 2-aminobutane enantiomers. The enantioselectivity of the gas-phase A-to-B displacement in the diastereomeric [M x H x A]+ complexes essentially reflects the free energy gap between the homo- and heterochiral [M x H x A]+ complexes, except when the tetra-amidic host presents an additional macrocycle generated by a decamethylene chain. In this case, the measured enantioselectivity mostly reflects the stability difference between the relevant diastereomeric transition structures.     

Validation study of the VitaKit A test kit for the determination of vitamin A in fluid milk (2% fat) for routine quality control. Performance Tested Method 061001

A validation study of VitaKit A for quantitation of total vitamin A in 2% fluid milk was carried out according to the guidelines provided by AOAC INTERNATIONAL. The VitaKit A was compared, in terms of repeatability and accuracy, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Interstate Milk Shippers HPLC reference method for determination of total vitamin A in fluid milk with 2% fat. The data obtained by the VitaKit A method are in excellent agreement with the data obtained by the HPLC reference method. Further, a low LOD (0.33 international unit/mL) was obtained for the VitaKit A method; the presence of interferents, like cholesterol and vitamin D3, in the milk had minor influence on the quantitation of total vitamin A by the VitaKit A method. The VitaKit A test kit was found to be stable for 1 year from the date of manufacture when stored at 2-8 degrees C. The method requires 2 h processing time, compared to 1-2 days for the HPLC reference method. The results of this validation study clearly demonstrate that the VitaKit A method is reliable, rapid, and accurate for the quantitation of total vitamin A in fluid milk containing 2% milk fat. An independent study by Q Laboratories Inc., Cincinnati, OH, under the validation guidelines of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, confirmed these findings.     

Combining conformational sampling and selection to identify the binding mode of zinc-bound amyloid peptides with bifunctional molecules

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been suggested to be related with the aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides. Metal ions (e.g. Cu, Fe, and Zn) are supposed to induce the aggregation of Aβ. Recent development of bifunctional molecules that are capable of interacting with Aβ and chelating biometal ions provides promising therapeutics to AD. However, the molecular mechanism for how Aβ, metal ions, and bifunctional molecules interact with each other is still elusive. In this study, the binding mode of Zn(2+)-bound Aβ with bifunctional molecules was investigated by the combination of conformational sampling of full-length Aβ peptides using replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations (REMD) and conformational selection using molecular docking and classical MD simulations. We demonstrate that Zn(2+)-bound Aβ((1-40)) and Aβ((1-42)) exhibit different conformational ensemble. Both Aβ peptides can adopt various conformations to recognize typical bifunctional molecules with different binding affinities. The bifunctional molecules exhibit their dual functions by first preferentially interfering with hydrophobic residues 17-21 and/or 30-35 of Zn(2+)-bound Aβ. Additional interactions with residues surrounding Zn(2+) could possibly disrupt interactions between Zn(2+) and Aβ, which then facilitate these small molecules to chelate Zn(2+). The binding free energy calculations further demonstrate that the association of Aβ with bifunctional molecules is driven by enthalpy. Our results provide a feasible approach to understand the recognition mechanism of disordered proteins with small molecules, which could be helpful to the design of novel AD drugs.     

Extent of formation of a dimeric adenine photoproduct in polynucleotides and DNA

Quantum yields are reported for the formation of a dimeric adenine photoproduct, A = A, in adenine homopolymers and DNA irradiated at 254 nm. The A = A content of irradiated samples was assayed by using reversed-phase HPLC to isolate the 4,6-diamino-5-guanidinopyrimidine (DGPY) which is produced from A = A on acid hydrolysis. Acid hydrolysates derived from DNA radiolabelled with [14C] 2'-deoxyadenosine were spiked with unlabelled DGPY before fractionation on HPLC and the recovered material was further purified by chromatography on Sephadex G-10 followed by co-crystallization with DGPY sulphate. Although A = A is formed with a relatively high quantum yield of 1.6 X 10(-3) mol einstein-1 in single-stranded poly(dA) the photoaddition reaction is strongly quenched in base-paired poly(dA).poly(dT) and undetectable in poly(rA).poly(dT). Respective quantum yields of 6 X 10(-5) and 9 X 10(-6) were estimated for the formation of A = A in single- and double-stranded E. coli DNA implying that the photoproduct has very limited biological significance. From studies with d(ApG), d(GpA), ApG, GpA, d(A)20 and d(A4G)4 it is concluded that adjacent guanine and adenine bases do not form a photoadduct analogous to A = A and also that guanine residues have no local or long-range quenching effect on photodimerization within A-A doublets.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination and metabolic study of sennoside a in daiokanzoto by mouse intestinal bacteria

Daiokanzoto (DKT, combination of rhubarb and glycyrrhiza), a Kampo medicine, is clinically effective for constipation. Sennoside A is well known to induce diarrhea. Sennoside A is a prodrug that is transformed into an active metabolite, rheinanthrone, by intestinal bacteria. In this study, we investigated the effects of glycyrrhiza on the activity of sennoside A metabolism in intestinal bacteria using mouse feces. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of sennoside A in incubation mixture of DKT with mouse feces was established. The retention time of sennoside A was 9.26±0.02 min with a TSKgel ODS-80TsQA column by linear gradient elution using a mobile phase containing aqueous phosphoric acid and acetonitrile and detection at 265 nm. We found that the activity of sennoside A metabolism in intestinal bacteria was significantly accelerated when glycyrrhiza, liquiritin or liquiritin apioside coexisted with sennoside A, whereas that of glycyrrhizin was not altered. This method is applicable for determination of the activity of sennoside A metabolism by anaerobic incubation of DKT with mouse feces.     

Stereocontrol in organic synthesis using silicon-containing compounds. Studies directed towards the synthesis of ebelactone A

Several approaches to the synthesis of ebelactone A 2 are described, culminating in the synthesis of the benzenesulfonate of 2-epi-ebelactone A 161. All the approaches were based on three fragments A, B and C, originally defined in general terms in, but eventually used as the aldehyde 72, the allenylsilane 3 and the aldehyde 139, respectively. They were joined, first B with C, and then B+C with A. In the main routes to fragments A and C, the relative stereochemistry was controlled by highly stereoselective enolate methylations 67-->67, 68-->69, and 135-->136, in each case anti to an adjacent silyl group, and by a highly stereoselective hydroboration of an allylsilane 137-->138, also anti to the silyl group. The hydroxyl groups destined to be on C-3 and C-11 were unmasked by silyl-to-hydroxy conversions 69-->70 and 138-->139 with retention of configuration. The stereochemistry created in the coupling of fragment B to C was controlled by the stereospecifically anti S(E)2' reaction between the enantiomerically enriched allenylsilane 3 and the aldehyde 139. The double bond geometry was controlled by syn stereospecific silylcupration 148-->151, and preserved by iododesilylation 151-->152 of the vinylsilane with retention of configuration, and Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi coupling with the aldehyde 72 gave the whole carbon skeleton 153 of ebelactone A with the correct relative configuration, all of which had been controlled by organosilicon chemistry. In the steps to remove the superfluous allylic hydroxyl, an intermediate allyllithium species 156 abstracted the proton on C-2, and its reprotonation inverted the configuration at that atom. Other routes to the fragments A and C were also explored, both successful and unsuccessful, both silicon-based and conventional, and a number of unexpected side reactions were investigated.     

Nucleotide recognition by protonated aminoglycosides

Interactions of protonated forms of kanamycin A with nucleotides and several simple phosphate anions have been studied by potentiometric and NMR titrations. The affinity of kanamycin A to anions is comparable to that observed with other aliphatic polyammonium receptors of similar charge, but it discriminates triphosphate nucleotides with different nucleobases with binding constants following the order GTP?CTP ≈ ATP. Kanamycin A also binds the respective uncharged nucleosides with the same selectivity. Binding of ATP is exothermic with a negative entropic contribution in contrast to what is expected for simple ion pairing. Other tested aminoglycosides, amikacin and streptomycin, bind ATP less efficiently than kanamycin A. Models of structures of kanamycin A complexes with ATP and GTP obtained by molecular mechanics (OPLS-2005) calculations based on ¹H and ³¹P NMR data confirm the possibility of nucleotide discrimination by simultaneous ion pairing of terminal nucleotide phosphate groups with ammonium sites of rings B and C and hydrogen bonding of the nucleobase at the ring A of the aminoglycoside.     

Robustness of virus removal by protein A chromatography is independent of media lifetime

The robustness of virus clearance with respect to protein A media reuse was demonstrated using media with four matrix chemistries: Protein A immobilized ProSep A, Poros A50, Protein A ceramic Hyper DF and MabSelect SuRe, an alkali resistant protein A ligand. Endogenous retrovirus clearance, step yield, impurity clearance and other performance parameters were evaluated periodically in media cycled up to 300 times. Media lifetime was generally limited by either declining step yield or media fouling. However, clearance of endogenous retrovirus remained in an acceptable range, either increasing or remaining constant. Multiply cycled media were tested for clearance of three viruses (SV40, X-MuLV, and MMV); clearance was comparable to na?ve media. Overall, virus clearance by protein A chromatography appears to be extremely robust with respect to media age.     

Design of new bidentate ligands constructed of two Hoechst 33258 units for discrimination of the length of two A3T3 binding motifs

[structure: see text] The aim of this study is to develop bidentate minor-groove binders that bind the double binding motifs cooperatively. The new bidentate ligands (1) have been designed by connecting two Hoechst 33258 units with a polyether linker for cooperative binding with two remote A3T3 sites of DNA. The linker is introduced to the benzimidazole ring so that it is located at the convex side of the Hoechst unit. DNA binding affinity of the ligands was evaluated by measuring surface plasmon resonance (SPR), circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectra. Interestingly, the bidentate ligands (1) did not show affinity to DNA1 with a single A3T3 motif but showed selective affinity to DNA2 with two A3T3 motifs. The Long Bis-H (1L) having a long polyether linker showed specific binding to DNA2(6) with two A3T3 motifs separated by six nonbinding base pairs. The Long Bis-H (1L) has also shown specific binding to the three-way junction DNA4 with two A3T3 motifs. This study has demonstrated that DNA with double binding motifs can be selectively recognized by the newly designed bidentate ligands.     

Identification of ochratoxin A in food samples by chemical derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The contamination of foods with ochratoxin A can be determined very sensitively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. A novel procedure is described to confirm OA-positive results quantitatively down to the HPLC detection limit of 0.1 ppb. For this, ochratoxin A in the sample extract is converted into its O-methylochratoxin A methyl ester derivative, which is identified subsequently by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry negative-ion chemical ionization and multiple ion detection modes using the hexadeuterated O-methyl-d3-ochratoxin A methyl-d3 ester derivative as internal standard for quantification. In the analysis of more than 60 contaminated samples, the procedure was found to be very accurate.     

多壁碳纳米管活化A549细胞核转录子-κB的机制

探讨多壁碳纳米管对人肺上皮细胞A549核转录因子-κB(NF-κB)活性的影响及其活化机制.不同浓度的多壁碳纳米管作用于A549细胞后,用活性氧(ROS)敏感探针2′,7′-二氯荧光素二乙酸酯结合流式细胞仪检测细胞内氧化应激状态;用凝胶电泳迁移率改变这一分析技术检测A549细胞NF-κB DNA结合活性;用蛋白印迹检测A549细胞NF-κB p65蛋白和IκBα蛋白表达;用免疫荧光结合共聚焦显微镜观察A549细胞NF-κB p65蛋白的核转位情况.结果表明,多壁碳纳米管诱导A549细胞内ROS过量产生和NF-κB DNA结合活性;同时伴有p65蛋白核移位和IκBα蛋白胞浆降解.抗氧化剂N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)可抑制多壁碳纳米管诱导的A549细胞内ROS产生、NF-κB DNA结合活性、p65蛋白核移位以及IκBα蛋白降解.结果表明,多壁碳纳米管可以通过诱导A549细胞氧化应激机制从而活化核转录因子NF-κB活性.     

A stereospecific pathway for the introduction of deuterium on the brassinosteroid skeleton by reductive dechlorination of chlorocarbonates

A new and efficient procedure for the preparation of brassinosteroids labeled with hydrogen isotopes was developed. A four-step reaction sequence started with the selective oxidation of a 2,3-diol group to an α-hydroxy ketone, which was converted stereospecifically into a chlorocarbonate by reaction with triphosgene. A subsequent Pd-catalyzed reductive dechlorination with deuterium gas yielded deuterium-labeled brassinosteroid 2,3-carbonates. The reaction sequence was completed by base-catalyzed hydrolysis of the cyclic carbonate.     

磁性4A沸石制备及其对水中氯乙酸吸附

以工业级水玻璃、NaAlO2、NaOH和去离子水为原料,采用水热法先合成4A分子筛,然后在二价和三价铁离子混合溶液中用氨水调节负载铁的氧化物及真空干燥等步骤,制得了一系列磁化率不同的磁性分子筛,并对其进行了XRD、SEM、IR及TG等表征分析.结果表明,合成磁性4A沸石晶形完整,表面负载的四氧化三铁分布均匀,磁化率随所负载四氧化三铁量的增加而增大,粒度比纯4A沸石大.磁性4A沸石对钙、镁、铅和氯乙酸的吸附性能与纯4A沸石相当,利用磁性4A沸石可以方便地用磁场分离的特性,其粉末状产品不用成型就可以直接在溶剂或溶液中使用.     

Equilibrium structures for butadiene and ethylene: compelling evidence for pi-electron delocalization in butadiene

Equilibrium structures have been determined for s-trans-1,3-butadiene and ethylene after adjusting the rotational constants obtained from rotational spectroscopy by vibration-rotation constants calculated from the results of quantum chemical calculations. For butadiene, the formal C=C bond length is 1.338 A, and the formal C-C bond length is 1.454 A. For ethylene, the C=C bond length is 1.3305 A. These values appear to be good to 0.001 A. It is shown for the first time that pi-electron delocalization has the structural consequences of increasing the length of the formal double bond by 0.007 A and decreasing the length of the formal single bond by 0.016 A. Comparisons are made with structures computed with several quantum chemical models. The MP2/cc-pVTZ results agree best with the new re structure.